The brains of children are highly adaptable. So, for example, a child beset by severe epilepsy may undergo a hemispherectomy - a surgery to remove one hemisphere of the brain - and recover quite nicely, as the remaining hemisphere rewires itself and learns the tasks lost through surgery.

The brains of adults are less pliable. As we age, neural networks become more firmly established and less capable of adapting to overcome traumas. This is what makes recovery from stroke difficult, and why we often see only partial results. But, researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore are challenging that traditional wisdom.

Using a strange treadmill, the scientists are retraining stroke victims to walk without a limp. The process relies on teaching the muscles to reply without a second thought - literally. The researchers have discovered that a network of underlying robotic nerve systems controls the legs. The challenge is to train these nerves at a subconscious level.

To do so, the scientists developed a “split-treadmill.” This treadmill has two belts, one on each side, which can be adjusted to differing speeds and directions. So, the right side may be set to move four times faster than the left; or, the left

side may move forward and the right side backward. Yes, it sounds like a cruel punishment for someone already struggling to overcome a stroke, but the results are impressive.

After 15 minutes on the treadmill, the patients walk without a limp - for about 15 minutes. It’s really quite remarkable, as these are patients with longstanding debilities. The key is now to extend the positive benefits of the therapy for longer intervals, and Kennedy Krieger will start a new round of studies in the fall.

Though the fancy treadmills are not yet commercially available, don’t despair. Mr.

Original post by tim